Photographic developing apparatus.



n JAMES- IYHOTQGIAPHIO DEYBLQPING APPARATUS APrLIoA'TIon FILED im'. 4., 1907'.

' Patentedl J an. 5, 1909.

, we. /l f u OFFICE.

DAVID JAMES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1909.

Application filed November 4:, 1907. Serial No. 460,665.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, DAvID JAMES, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photographic Developing Apparatus and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the invention, such as will enable ot ers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construetion in a photographers developing tank, the object being to provide a device of this character which is very compact, light-proof, and permits of all manipulations necessary to the attainment of the best results in developin T and by means of which plates may be developed in daylight and thus obviate the necessity of a darkroom, and consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accom anying drawings illustrating this invention: igure -1- is a central vertical section of a developing tank constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. -2- is a plan section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1-

In a companion application led of even date herewith I have shown and described'ia developing tank ada ted to receive plates and be immersed in t e developer which enters the same at either end. The said device does not, however, constitute a receptacle for li uid as upon removal from the bath the liquid1 drains therefrom.

The object of the present invention is to provide a developing tank which constitutes a receptacle for the liquid as well as the plates and which, therefore, obviates the use of an additional receptacle for the liquid, and which is relatively very small and compact, and, therefore, easily portable thus articularly fitting the same for u se by trave ers who are thereby enabled to develop and fix plates whenever desired and ascertain before dearture from the scene whether success has een achieved in photographing views, groups, etc.

To the above and other ends my said aparatus comprises a relatively flat rectanguar tank A having a flanged cover B in which 'one end of said tank is received, the overlapping iianges of said cover excluding light from the tank. The said cover is preferably engaged by a suitable latch to hold it against accidental removal. In the instance illustrated one of the end flanges of the cover B is provided at its free end with an inwardly extending projection C adapted to engage the bead D on the wired mouth of the receptacle,

the other end flange and the corresponding end wall of the tank being equipped with a trunk latch E. While this arrangement serves my purpose I desire it to be understood that any other suitable means for locking the cover in place is comprehended in my invention.

Adjacent to and preferably inwardly of a vertical wall of the tank a plate F is disposed parallel therewith .and which terminates at a point higher than the bottom of the receptacle to provide an inlet G through which liquid passes from the passages II formed between said plate F and the said wall of said tank into the body portion of the latter. An L-shaped spout J is disposed on the lastnamed wall of said tank and communicates with said assage II through an opening K in said wal, the mouth of said spout being preferably equipped with a removable funnel M. In this manner a light-proof inlet for liquid is provided and the latter is admitted to the bottom of the main or developing chamber N of said tank in which the plates to be developed are received.

Compactness of the tank (by which I desire to express maximum capacity of plates in roportion to space occupied) is attainable on y by the use in connection therewith of a rack in which the plates are maintained separated to the smallest possible extent without danger of retarding or deleteriously affecting the action of the solutions on the sensitized surfaces of the plates. The rack employed consists of two parallel inverted U-shaped wires O to the free ends of which the rectangular skeleton base P is secured at the corners thereof. Secured at their side edges to the said wires are two parallel opposed rack-plates Q each provided with a plurality of parallel opposing recesses in each of which two lates are disposed back to back (sensitize faces outwardly) said recesses being separated by projections R of less width, thereby providing narrow spaces between the opposing sensitized faces of plates in which the developer circulates freely. The said rack fits snugly within the tank and is removable therefrom thus forming substantially a basket for the plates and affording the most convenient means for handling the same.

rlhe plates are transferred from plate holders to the rack in a dark closet or in a light-proof bag forming a portable dark room andthe rack then placed in the tank without permitting penetration of light thereto. The cover B is then placed in said tank and secured.` rllhe tank may now be exposed to daylight and developer introduced through the spout in quantity suiiicient to completely immerse the plates. The cover iits relatively loosely on the tank thus permitting ready escape of displaced air through the interstices between the walls of the tank and the 'flanges of the cover. Owing to the compact disposition of the latter a relatively small quantity of developer suices, this being advantageous to the traveler in particular as he cannot well `carry liquids Aand must throw away his solutions after using. The tank may be rocked to keep the developer Well in motion and insure uniformity of action and the plates maintained therein a suficient length oi' time to insure full development. rlhe developer is then drained off without exposing the plates to daylight and then rinsed repeatedly with water if desired before introducing hypo or other fixing solution. After xing the plates the last-named solution is drained oli", the cover removed and the tank placed under a hydrant (if available) and water continuously introduced through the spout and overflowing the mouth ofgthe tank, the plates being thus quickly thoroughly cleared of hypo or other fixer. lf a hydrant is not available the rack may be removed and dipped repeatedly in successive changes of water in a bucket or the like until suiiiciently washed7 the rack thus affording a most convenient means of handling the plates without contact of the hands therewith or with any of the solutions used from the time they leave the plate-holders until they are ready to dry.

l claim as my invention:

fr photograp'hers developing apparatus comprising a rectangular vessel equipped with a removable cover having 'flanges overhanging the rupper end thereoil to exclude light7 a plate disposed within said. vessel parallel with one wall thereof to form a vertical passage between the same, said assage communicating at its lower end with the said vessel7 and an angular spout communicating at its delivery end. with said passage between the ends of the latter, 'the inner wall of said .passage constituting a false side wall of said vessel, and a removable rack in said receptacle receiving the plates and maintaining the same properly spaced therein.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVE) JAlwlES. Witnesses HENRY BURKE, RUDOLPH WM. Lo'rz. 

